Heavy-duty welding rod holder



April 18, 1950 M. WELLS 2,504,607

HEAVY DUTY WELDING ROD HOLDER Filed Nov. l5, 1948 INVENTOR. MART/N WELLSymfw Patented Apr. 18, 195@ UNITED STATES Fier'i'ENT OFFICE HEAVY-DUTYWELDING ROD HOLDER Martin Wells, Pasadena, Calif.

Application November 15, 1948, Serial No. 60,129

8 Claims. 1

My invention relates to holders for welding rod employed in electric arcwelding, and relates in particular to a heavy-duty electrode holder ciimproved characteristics which may be handled and operated with facilitycomparable to electrode holders of light type employed for holding ofslender rods in light duty electric arc welding.

In heavy-duty electric arc welding rods of large diameter are used andheavy current values must be carried through the electrode holders tothe rod held thereby. It is an object of my present invention to providea heavy-duty welding rod holder having means for tightly gripping theend of the rod so as to make efficient electrical contacts therewith,and being so constructed as to provide a continuous unbroken path orconductor for the flow of electric current from the cable to the rod,thereby establishing in the holder a condition which minimizes heatingof the holder resulting from the ow of electric current through themetal part thereof.

It is an object of the invention to provide a heavy-duty electrodeholder having a continuous, one piece metal body extending from thecable to the end of the welding rod which is firmly gripped by thegripping means at the outer or forward end of the holder.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple rugged andeiiicient rod gripping mech anism contained substantially wholly withinopenings formed in the continuous metal body of the holder, thisgripping mechanism comprising parts so related that a heavy grippingforce is exerted without exertion of great eiort by the Welder who isusing the holder.

A further object of the invention is to provide in this heavy-dutyelectrode holder a gripping mechanism which may be easily adjusted todifierent sizes of rod by use of a length of welding rod as theadjusting instrument, thereby avoiding necessity of the Welder bringingeither hand or glove into contact with the adjusting mechanism. Afeature of the invention is in the facility and ease, and also the shorttime, in which the mechanism may be actuated in releasing the end of aused-rod and inserting a new one.

A further object of the invention is to provide a heavy-duty welding rodholder having a rod grip ping mechanism including an actuating leverwhich is disposed in such proximity to the handle ofthe-holder as tofacilitate its operation and it is a further object of the invention toprovide a welding rod holder which may be quickly assembled from partswhich are rugged in character,

Further objects and advantages of theinvem 2 tion will be brought out inthe following part of the specification wherein I have described thedetails of a preferred embodiment of the invention so as to give adetailed disclosure without limiting the scope of the invention dened inthe appended claims.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinally sectional view, to substantially full scaleci a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken as indicated by the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken as indicated by the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken as indicated by the line 4 4 of Fig, 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken as indicated by the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

The form of the invention shown in the drawing includes a metal body I0which is continuous from end to end. It is integrally formed from ametal of good electrical conductivity, such as bronze, and consists of afront portion I I, a middle portion I2, and a 'rear or handle portionI3. As shown in Figs. l and 5, the front portion I I is of rectangularcross section, with rounded corners. Near the front end Ill of thisfront portion II, there is a rod receiving opening I5 which intersectsthe forward end of an axial pin opening I6. The pin opening I extendsrearwardly (rightwardly) to meet with a spring-receiving bore I'I oflarger diameter than the opening I6, there being an annular shoulder I8at the forward end of the bore I'I. Upper and lower slots I9 and 20intersect the pin opening I6 at a position between the rodreceivingopening I5 and the shoulder I8, these slots I9 and 2i! lying in theplane defined by the axis of the rod Opening I5.

The middle portion I2 of the metal body I0, shown also as being ofrectangular cross section, is larger in cross section than the frontportion I I, and projecting from the rear (rightward) end of the middleportion is the rear portion I3 of the metal body I0, this rear portionI3 being circular as shown in Fig. 4, and merging with the middleportion I2 at the rear-end shoulder 2i of the middle portion I2. Asshown in Figs. l and 2, the middle portion I 2 has in the forwardsubstantially one-half thereof a transverse opening or window 22. Thisopening or window 22 extends from side to side of the middle portion I2and communicates with the rightward end of the spring opening I'I. Theupper and lower margins of the window 22 are defined by parallel'tweenrthefribs 52. within the 'handle 33', maybe braze'd to the rearwalls 26 thereare pin openings 21 to receive a transverse pin 28 onwhich the inner portion 23 of a lever 30 is swingable from a positionsub stantially aligned with the axis of the pin opening I6 to an angularposition indicated by vdotted lines 29'. This lever 3i] has an outerportion 3l which is connected to the inner portion 29 by a transverseportion 32 which extends ylaterally within the channel 25 to theexterior, so that the outer portion 3I of the lever 3l) comprises anactuating handle 3I for the lever 30, this outer or handle portion 3Ilying substantially parallel and close tothe handle 33 of the rod holderwhen the lever 30 is-"in position to effectuate clamping oa-welding rod34 in the opening Iv5,-as. shown in'Fig. 1.

The forward (leftward) end 35 of the inner lever portion 29-projectsinto the window 22. The end 35 is fabricated, and on a transverse pin35, carries aroller 31.

The lever portion29 and the roller 31v form part of a clamping meanswhich acts between 'theabutment formed by the pin 28 and the opening I5to clamp the rod 34. Thisclamping means includes I.a thrust element 40ofv adjustable length comprising a hard metal pin ISL-with externalthreadsr42-at itsrearward end, and a cap nut-43 screwed thereon, thiscap nutriti! having a cylindric projection 44 which extends into therearward end of the opening I1. The cap nut 43 has a rounded rear face45 and a spring 45, within the opening I1,-acts between theshoulder I8and thefront end-of the cylindric lextension 44 to urge-the thrustelement 4i] rightwardly to hold the 'convex face 45 thereof inengagement with .the rollerl 31. The pinV or bar 4I has therein a'diametral opening 41 which receives the stem portion/.'48 ofva pin 49which extends `within. the slotiIS of the front portion I4, the pin 49preventing rotation of the thrust bar 4I. As shown in'k Figs. l-and 2the head portion of the cap nut "43 is in the opening or window 22 andhas thereon radially projecting ribs or flutes extending parallel to theaxis of rotation of the meinber43 and providing'a means whereby this nut43 may be rotated'on the threaded portion 42, to move it relatively tothe bar-"4I whereby the overall llength of the thrust element 40 may beincreased or decreased'as may be required to bring the front end 5I ofthe bar 4I into engagement at proper pressure with the welding rod 34when the roller 31 is moved from the retracted, dotted line y'position31' thereof into the yfull-line position `shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Figs. land 4, the rear portion I3 -of the metal'body I hasthereon a Vplurality of longitudinallyextending ribs 52, and the handlewhich consists of'a tube of fibrous insulating material isi-a pressiiton the external faces of the ribs-52. 'The front end of the handle 33has a plurality of notches 53 therein providing air openingswhich-communicate with theair cirhandle 33 .and the rear body portion I3and be- A cable which extends 4 end portion I3 of the metal body I0. Atubular insulator 55 encloses the middle portion I2 of the middle bodyIE). As shown in Fig. 2 it has openn Us 51 therein which communicatewith the entre ties of the window 22, and an opening 53 as shown inFigs. 1 and 3, which communicates with the outer end of the channel orspace 25. A cup-shaped insulator 59, of removable and replaceablecharacter, is fitted Over the front portion l I of the metal body I0.-Ithas a rod opening communicating with the rod opening I5, and a slot@l communicating with the slot 2f). This slot 2e has a dual purpose. Itpermits escape to the exterior of foreign particles which may pass ffrom the rod opening I5 and through the pin vof the diametral opening 41of the bar 4I should it be desired to remove this bar 4 I. In the bottomwall of the middlevportion I2, below thepassage 25 there isathreaded-opening 64,:which receives Y an 'adjusting'- screwV (i5,n theupperend of which screw 651comprisesan adjustablefstopgfor the downwardmovementof theinnenleverportion 29, wherebycontrol of the -position'ofthe roller 31 on the convex face-45f of the^nutf431 is accomplished. Bythisl adjustment thef-roller31 is prevented from rolling too farover theconvex face to interfere vwith easy release oft-lie` rod clamping means,which release isaccompllshed swinging the handle portion-3| of thelever33 from the full line tothe .dotted line'position 3i thereof. Whenrelease ofthe rod 34 Iis'desired, the operatormay movethe-end of the newrod leftwardly from the positionindicated-by the dotted circle 34',engagingthe insulatorp which is iitted on the handle 3I, -causingthlshandle to snap outward from itsfulllineposition to its dotted lineposition=3| ','the-spring-*IS acting at this time to retract the bara4Iand .the nut 43 rightwardly, releasing the used rod F34 from the rodopening I5. The end'of therod indicated at 34 is then inserted intherody opening i5 and the handle 3l is movedback to itsffu-ll lineposition, the roller 31 being thereby'caused to ride up on theconvex-face'45of .themember 43 to move the thrustelementillkinto4engagement with the end of the new rod with'such heavy pressure as toproduce very good electrical contact between it and the .front endI4'ofthe metal body I5. In assembling the rod holder, the bar 4i ispassed through: theA channel' 25v and the window into the axial`openings yI6 and.I1. The pin 49 may be then installed and the` springplaced in the opening I1 around'the bar 4I. The cap nut 43 is then movedinto the window 22 rind is screwed on the threaded endf42 ofthe bar 4i.Then, the lever "35 is passed in'through the channel 25 and thetransverse-pirrZB is passed through the openings `21 and through thelever. Thereafter, the insulator 456 is' placed'over the middle portionI2, covering thefends of the pin and the insulator 59 is placed onthefront portion II, covering the vslot I-Elf'and preventing movement ofthe'pln ISoutof-engagement lwith the bar 4I. Prior toer-after'theioregoinggthe tubular handle 33 maybe forced-ontothe--rear ber 43.It will be understood that when a size of rod is changed the length ofthe thrust element 49 will be correspondingly changed by adjusting .thenut member 43 on the bar 4l as just described. Welding rods 34 may bereplaced in the holder with facility and rapidity and the welding rodsmay be clamped with very heavy clamping force. Minimum heating of theholder results from the provision of a continuous path of flow for thewelding current from the cable 55 through the continuous metal body l tothe rod 34 gripped by the holder.

I claim:

1. In an electrode holder: rigidly connected metal members forming anelongated metal body having at the rear end thereof means whereby thebody may be connected to an electric cable, having a rod receivingopening in the front portion thereof and a window in an intermediateportion thereof, a channel to receive a clamping pin connecting saidwindow with said rod receiving opening, and a passage connecting saidwindow with a side face of said metal body; a clamping pin in saidchannel, there being threads on the rear end of said pin; means forlimiting rotation of said pin; a nut member on the rear end of said pin,said nut member having thereon projections shaped so as to beengagea-ble through said window by a rod end for rotation to adjust iton the threads of said screw; a spring in said channel engaging said nutmember to move said member and said pin rearwardly; a lever extendingthrough said passage, there being a roller on the inner end of saidlever to engage said nut and move it forwardly as said lever is movedfrom an angular position to a position aligned with said pin meanssupporting said lever so that it may be swung between said positions;and a handle on the outer portion of said lever positioned so that itwill lie close to said metal body when said lever is aligned with saidpin and will project from said metal body when said lever is in itsangular position.

2. In an electrode holder: rigidly connected metal members forming anelongated metal body having at the rear end thereof means whereby thebody may be connected to an electric cable, having a rod receivingopening in the front portion thereof and a window in an intermediateportion thereof, a channel to receive a clamping pin connecting saidwindow with said rod receiving opening, and a passage connecting saidwindow with a side face of said metal body; a clamping pin in saidchannel, there being threads on the rear end of said pin; means forlimiting rotation of said pin; a nut screwed on said pin and having ahead portion with a rear face in said window and shoulders engageablethrough said window for rotating said nut; a lever extending throughsaid passage, there being a roller on the inner end of said lever toengage the rear face of said nut and move it forwardly as said lever ismoved from an angular position to a position aligned with said pin meanssupporting said lever so that it may be swung between said positions;and an insulated handle on the outer portion of said lever for operatingsaid lever.

3. In an electrode holder: rigidly connected metal members forming anelongated metal body having at the rear end thereof means whereby r thebody may be connected to an electric cable, having a rod receivingopening in the front portion thereof and a window in an intermediateportion thereof, a channel to receive a clamping pin connecting saidwindow with said rod receiving Lil) opening, and a passage connectingsaid window with a side face of said metal body; a clamping pin in saidchannel, there being threads on the rear end of said pin; means forlimiting rotation of said pin; a nut on the rearward end of said pinhaving shoulders engageable through said window for rotation of the nut;a lever extending through said passage, there being a roller on theinner end of said lever to engage said nut and move it forwardly as saidlever is moved from an angular position to a position aligned with saidpin means supporting said lever so that it may be swung between saidpositions; a handle on the outer portion of said lever for operatingsaid lever; and adjustable means for limiting the movement of said leverin one of its directions of movement.

4. In an electrode holder: rigidly connected metal members forming anelongated metal body having at the rear end thereof means whereby thebody may be connected to an electric cable, having a rodreceivingopening in the front portion thereof and a window in anintermediate portion thereof, a channel to receive a clamping meansconnecting said window with said rod receiving opening, and a passageconnecting said window with a side face of said metal body; clampingmeans, adjustable in length, extending in said channel from said pinopening to said window; a lever extending through said passage, therebeing means on the inner end of said lever to engage the rearward end ofsaid clamping means and move it forwardly as said lever is moved from anangular position to a position aligned with said clamping meanssupporting said lever so that it may be swung between said positions; ahandle on the outer portion of said lever for operating said lever; andadjustable means for limiting the movement of said lever in one of itsdirections of movement.

5. In an electrode holder: an elongated metal body having at the rearend thereof means whereby the body may be connected to an electriccable, having in the front end thereof a rod receiving opening andhaving a channel extending rearwardly from said opening; a clamping pinin said channel; an extensible part in threaded engagement with said pinso that relative rotation of said part and said pin will eiect axialadjustment of said part relatively to said pin; adjusting meansoperative from the exterior of said body for rotating said partrelatively to said pin; and lever means supported on said body operativeto apply forward force to said part to cause movement of said pin towardsaid rod receiving opening.

6. In an electrode holder: an elongated metal body having at the rearend thereof means whereby the body may be connected to an electriccable, having in the front end thereof a rod receiving opening andhaving a channel extending rearwardly from said opening; a clamping pinin said channel; an extensible part in threaded engagement with saidpin; means for rotating said part relatively to said pin; and levermeans for actuating said clamping means, said lever means having a partto thrust forwardly against said extensible part and a part to reactagainst said body as said lever is moved from a non-clamping to aclamping position.

7. In an electrode holder: rigidly connected metal members forming anelongated metal body having means at the rear end thereof for connectionto an electric cable, a rod receiving opening at the front end thereof,a cavity in the intermediate portion thereof and a, channel connecting7. said cavityl and said rod receiving opening; a rod clamping mechanismin said cavity and said channel, comprising parts adjustablyfrelated andmovable from released position to clamping position wherein one of said'parts will be projected into said opening to engage said rod, and meansoperative to adjust the adjustably related parts so as to vary theprojection of said one of said parts into said opening; a swingablehandle disposed on the exterior of said body; and lever means extendinginto said cavity and being operative by said handle to actuate said rodclamping mechanism from released position to clamping position.

8. A device as defined in claim 7 having adjustable means for limitingthe movement of said lever in one of its directions of movement- MARTINWELLS.

8 REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofv record in the le ofthis `patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

